UPDATE: Iowa City police arrest man accused of choking officer

Iowa City police say a CrimeStoppers tip led to the arrest of a University of Iowa student they believe choked an officer in the early morning hours of Nov. 18.

Branden Leo Plummer, 20, was arrested Tuesday night and is charged with attempted murder. According to the University of Iowa online directory, Plummer is a student from Urbandale.

According to the department, Sgt. Brian Krei was on routine patrol near the intersection of Linn and Burlington Streets at around 2:10 a.m. on Nov. 18, when he saw a man in the street disrupting traffic. Krei made contact with Plummer and asked him for his ID. Plummer told the officer that he had an ID, but was not going to show it to him.

Krei said that Plummer then tried to run away, but he grabbed Plummer and both men fell to ground. A struggle ensued and Plummer eventually got behind Krei and started choking him, according to police. Krei, who was alone, fought with Plummer for about two minutes before Plummer eventually ran south on Linn Street.

According to the criminal complaint, one witness tried to help the officer and then called 911. That witness says that Plummer slammed Krei's head into the concrete and told the witness not to call 911. A second witness says that the officer's face was red, he was gasping for air and was bleeding. A third witness told police that Plummer used a "scissor choke" to pull the officer to the ground and used the car as leverage.

Krei was treated at a local hospital for a cut to his head, scrapes on his hands and legs and bruising to his neck and throat. Sgt. Krei has since returned to full duty.

Iowa City Area CrimeStoppers and the Iowa City Police Association - Local 16 each offered a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to the arrest of this suspect.

The Iowa City Police Department would like to thank everyone who called in tips and local businesses for posting reward posters.